Document-file



UNITED STATES ATENT Tricia GUSTAV F. \V. SCHULTZ 1, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

DOCUMENT-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,310, dated April 28, 1891.

Application filed February 27, 1891. ,Serial No. 388,083. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, GUSTAV F. W. SCHULTZE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco, in the State of California, have invented a new and useful Document-File, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to design a simple and convenient file wherein documents or other papers may be neatly assorted and quickly packed for storage or transportation.

Briefly stated, my invention consists in the peculiar combination of a bed-plate or receiving-tray, a stationary end board, against which the papers are brought to bear, side rails to confine them in place, a follower, and a clamping-bar, the whole constructed and arranged as hereinafter more fully described, and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved file as it appears when ready for use; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same, showing a pack of documents pressed in place; and Fig. 3, a broken rear View of the pressure-board and the bar carrying it along the side rails.

The same parts are indicated by the same letters of reference in the three views.

Let A represent a bottom board or bedplate made of any suitable material, but preferably of wood. To one end of this base is rigidly secured an upright board B, which forms an end wall, against which documents or like papers placed upon the bed-plate may rest. A suitable handle 0 is provided at the back of the board B to enable one to carry the file with ease.

D D are stiff wires screwed into the inner edges of the end board and extending out in parallel horizontal lines the length of the base, the outer corners of which they reach by a proper bend, and to which they are secured by small screwspassingthrough their flattened ends. These wires not only serve to brace up the end board rising from the base but form side rails, between which the papers stood up on the bottom board may be confined, besides acting as supports and guides for the follower,

o as will presently appear.

The follower just referred to consists merely of a pressure-board E, rectangular in shape and sufficiently narrow to move freely between the side rails above described. To the back of it is fastened a bar F, provided at each end with oval holes or eyes a a, through which these wires are passed. Thus mounted the pressure-board may be shifted along the rails and moved to and from the stationary end board at any desirable distance.

The bar F is somewhat wider at the middle than at the ends, and out of its upper central portion are punched lugs ff, which project at right angles from it and the follower mounted thereon. To these lugs is hinged or pivoted the clamping-bar G.

The clamping-bar is composed of two members g g, united together somewhat in the shape of a double square, the upper member lying close to the pressure-board and the lower one standing out within easy reach and running down nearly to the bottom board. A hinge-pin h secures the upper end of this bar to the lugs ff, while the lower end of the same is provided with a shoe 2', adapted to bear upon the bed-plate. A finger-piece or hook j is formed at the outer angle presented at the junction of the two members of the clamping-bar for convenience in locking and unlocking it. v

The operation is simple and as follows: The pressure-board having been withdrawn from the end wall, as illustrated in Fig. 1,the documents or other papers to be put away are stood on end crosswise of the base between the side rails. This being done, the follower is applied and pressed against the papers until they are formed into a solid pack. The shoe t' is then slid along the bottom board so as to be wedged tightly against it, and consequently straighten up and raise the clampingbar, thus lifting the pressure-board from its bearings on the side rails and causing it to exert a constant pressure on the contents of the file, as represented at Fig. 2. Thus arranged, the papers filed may be readily stored away or conveniently carried out. Whenever, on the other hand, it is desired to examine any of the papers contained in the file, this may be quickly done by merely taking hold of the hook j and tripping the shoe i outward, thereby releasing the pressure-board. The

latter will then naturally fall back to the position shown at Fig. 1 and allow the tops of the documents to spread apart and expose their headings to view.

As will be noticed, the file hereinbefore described is composed of but few parts, easily constructed and put up together, and may be manufactured at a nominal expense. It is, nevertheless, very convenient for the purpose for Whichit has been designed, and comprises improvements which are universally appreciated.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a file, the combination, with the side rails thereof, of an oval-eyed bar adapted to slide along said rails and provided With lugs at right angles,'a pressure-board mounted on said bar, and a clamping-bar composed of two members, the upper member having hinge connection with the lugs of the oval-eyed bar and the lower one a frictional shoe, both of said members being united together in the form of a double square and provided with a tripping-hook at the outer angle presented at the junction of said members, substantially as set forth.

2. In a file, the clamping-bar G, composed of two members, the upper member having a hinge connection and the lower one a frictional shoe, both of said members being united together in the form of a double square and provided with a tripping-hook at the outer angle presented at the junction of said members, substantially as set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal. v

GUSTAV F. W. SCIIUUIZE. [L 3.]

In presence of N. 0. RYAN, A. H. STE. MARIE 

